What are Oregon Juvenile Court Records?

Oregon juvenile records are legal documents that provide details of court activities involving persons under 18. Such records are generally maintained by the Juvenile Justice Information System (JJIS) and managed by the Oregon Youth Authority. Matters concerning Juvenile custody are carefully separated from adult data. The juvenile court has jurisdiction over delinquency and dependency cases. That said, according to Or. Rev. Stat. § 419C.400, an adjudication about a case from the juvenile court, is not deemed a criminal conviction.

Juvenile court records are not obtainable by the public like typical criminal records. Mostly, organizations or people trying to obtain these records require permission from the court, which involves showing good reasons for getting the documents. Juvenile records may be available to the general public if the crime committed would be considered a major felony if an adult did it. To conduct a proper background search for a juvenile record, interested persons must pay a fee of $80 to the Department of State Police and also pay $252 for filing fees.

What Information is Contained in an Oregon Juvenile Record?

Oregon juvenile court records are not open to the general public unless the court declares the disclosure of the files. Information that may be found in an Oregon Juvenile record includes:

• Affidavits
• Petitions
• Summons
• Answers
• Motions
• Pleadings
• Exhibits and materials provided as exhibits (either collected in evidence or not)
• Supporting documentation
• Report summaries of the guardian filed with the court
• Transcripts
• Dispositional reports
• Order and verdict of the court

Oregon juvenile court records are not open to the general public unless the court grants permission. When access is granted, the following information may be disclosed: the name of the juvenile, the name of the court, the court's verdict, the time, date, and location of the proceedings, the offense committed (if that act would be considered a major criminal offense if committed by an adult), and the names of the parents, in accordance with Or. Rev. Stat. § 419A.255.

What Cases are Heard by Oregon Juvenile Courts?

The State of Oregon Juvenile courts have jurisdiction over crimes committed before the age of 18 and family issues, such as:

• Burglary
• Aggravated assault
• Neglect
• Child support
• Child abuse
• Adoption
• Nonviolent sex offense
• Larceny-theft
• Motor vehicle theft
• Arson
• Obstruction of justice
• Vandalism
• Liquor law violation
• Trespassing

Who is Eligible to View Juvenile Records in Oregon?

According to Or. Rev. Stat. § 419A.255, eligible parties who have access to Oregon juvenile records may include:

• The juvenile
• Parents of the minor
• Attorney
• Social service providers
• Juvenile court personnel
• Victims of the crime and parents of victims
• Superintendent of the school where the minor is enrolled

How to Find Juvenile Records in Oregon

Oregon classifies confidential juvenile records into two; court records and history and prognosis records. Court records consist of motions, summons, court orders, petitions, and other essential papers filed with the court. On the other hand, history and prognosis records include police reports, notes, information about the juvenile’s background, and assessments. Interested persons may also be able to obtain copies of juvenile files by contacting the Clerk of Circuit Court. Some circuit courts require that requestors complete a request form.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. Operating independently of any federal, state or local agency, such websites may simplify the search process as they are not limited by geographic location. In addition, third-party sites typically have search engines that can be used for filtering specific or multiple record(s). To use third-party or government websites, interested parties may need to provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that the person resides in or was accused in

However, third-party sites are independent of government sources and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Therefore, the record results, availability, or accuracy cannot be guaranteed.

Can You Lookup Oregon Juvenile Records Online?

Yes, the state of Oregon provides access to juvenile records online. Juvenile records are obtainable online by intergovernmental organizations and designated government agencies that work with kids, Oregon Youth Authority employees, and a few other organizations using The Juvenile Justice Information System (JJIS).

Do Oregon Juvenile Records Show up on Background Checks?

In the state of Oregon, juvenile criminal records may appear during official background checks. Only expunged juvenile files are exempted from showing during background checks, and minor offenders typically have a five-year waiting period before the expunction process begins. To expunge a record, file a motion for expungement or motion to set aside a conviction at the juvenile court. Filing for an expungement may cost at least $300 for each conviction, and the expungement order is typically finalized within three to four months, provided there are no pending convictions.

How Long are Juvenile Records Kept in Oregon?

In Oregon, juvenile records are typically preserved until the court issues an expungement order. For most records, there is a five-year waiting period prior to the expungement process. However, the offender must have no other convictions or criminal investigations pending. Some classes of felonies and offenses that involve children or sex-related crimes are not eligible for expungement. If the offender decides to file for expungement, the court is required to notify the victim. According to § 419A.262(22), any person whose case has been expunged may deny the record, arrest, or charges without incurring a penalty.